Highly regarded sophomore offensive lineman Jack Anderson of Wylie, Texas, received his first scholarship offer from a SEC school Monday when he was offered by Arkansas.
He learned of the offer from Coach Bret Bielema during a telephone conversation.
"It's huge," Anderson said. " I definitely can't forget the first SEC offer, that's for sure."
Anderson, 6-4, 280 pounds, 5.22 seconds in the 40-yard dash, also has scholarship offers from Texas Tech, Arizona State, Alabama-Birmingham, Arkansas State, New Mexico and New Mexico State.
"He talked about all the success his line has had," Anderson said of his conversation with Bielema. "He was saying at Wisconsin his whole line went to the NFL. He said he loved my film."
Anderson, who plans to attend an Arkansas game this season, is friends with linebacker Baron Browning of Kennedale, Texas. Browning received an offer from Arkansas during a summer camp.
"When he was there he sent me a few snapchats and texts," Anderson said. "He said everything is bigger in the SEC. I believe him. I got a good view myself. He said it's huge and he really liked it."
Anderson said he watched Arkansas' 49-28 victory over Texas Tech.
"My sister goes there and my dad is an alumni, so I was embarrassed, but I loved how the O-line was doing," said Anderson, who has a 290-pound bench press. "That's what I love to do, get mean."
Anderson noticed the size of the offensive linemen, most notably Dan Skipper, the Razorbacks 6-10, 326-pound tackle.
"They get nasty and all that," Anderson said. "They made me feel small."
STOREY'S BOOK
Arkansas quarterback commitment Ty Storey of Charleston became the 11th Arkansas high school player to reach 9,000 career passing yards in the Tigers' 42-6 victory over Gentry on Sept. 12.
Storey completed 11 of 13 passes for 166 yards, running his career totals to 9,102 yards and 109 touchdowns.
He followed that up with another strong performance, completing 21 of 33 passes for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns and added 78 yards and 2 touchdowns rushing Friday night in a 47-12 victory over Ozark.
Story has completed 659 of 1,006 passes for 9,402 yards and 113 touchdowns for his career.
UA EYES FORWARD
Atlanta Westlake forward Anriel Howard, one of the nation's top women's basketball prospects, took an official visit to Arkansas on Sept. 5-7 and came away impressed with Coach Jimmy Dykes' program.
Howard, 6-1, has scholarship offers from more than 20 schools, including Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Kentucky.
"I loved Coach Dykes and his family," Howard said. "I liked the environment. It was really nice."
Howard became known for her eyelashes during the spring and summer basketball events, and Arkansas' players made sure she felt at home when they greeted her in Fayetteville.
"They had their backs turned, and I was wondering why did everybody have their backs towards me," Howard said. "They counted 1, 2 and 3 and they all turned around, and they had these big, colorful lashes. I was like, all that was so nice."
Howard has a 3.4 grade-point average and is planning to major in communications with an eye on going onto broadcasting. She took a tour of the SEC Network TV truck that broadcast Arkansas' football game against Nicholls State.
"I also met one of the sideline reporters," Howard said. "That's what I'd like to do, so I was like, wow, this is awesome. That took my breath away."
Howard has taken official visits to South Carolina and Texas A&M and plans to visit Kentucky. She said she isn't favoring any school yet.
"All of them stood out," Howard said. "They all stood out in different ways. I would really have to sit down and do pros and cons for each school, and I haven't done that yet. I'm going to do that after all of my visits."
Academics and playing time will help decide where she ends up.
"Communication and broadcasting is my number one," she said. "Number two is definitely playing time. I know I'm going to have to earn it. That will be done. I'm going to earn it."
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 09/21/2014